Driver offered trooper $2,500 not to search vehicle, police say

KINGSTON, N.Y. -- A Dutchess County man pleaded guilty to offering $2,500 to a state police trooper to not search his car, which contained seven grams of cocaine, authorities said Friday.

Jahaad Williams, 20, pleaded guilty Thursday before Ulster County Court Judge Donald Williams to criminal possession of a controlled substance and bribery stemming from a traffic stop by a trooper on Aug. 5, 2011 in the town of Lloyd, said Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright.

Williams, who has no prior criminal history, was sentenced Thursday to five years probation.

He had been pulled over for a routine traffic stop when the trooper later discovered the drugs, Carnright said.

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During the stop, he told the officer, "I can give you $2,500 if you do not search my car," the district attorney said.

At that point, the trooper arrested Williams on bribery charges, and following that, the drugs were discovered, Carnright said.

"This goes on the list of not- too- bright things to say to a police officer," he said.